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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 38: On Yanzi Ridge

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    On the Yanzi Ridge next to Dongjingpu, ten miles south of Changsha City, in a lush mountain forest, dozens of silk flags flutter in the wind, one of which is the unique apricot yellow flag of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.  The few private houses and cottages in the forest have been reinforced with stones and turned into strong fortresses. Hundreds of Taiping soldiers wearing red scarves loomed behind the fortresses.

    Deng Shaoliang, the deputy general of the Qing army Chu Xiongxie at the foot of Yanziling, held up a telescope and looked at it. This telescope was a gift from Ouyang Zhaoxiong, a wealthy businessman in Hunan, after he defeated the rebel Li Yuanfa in the 30th year of Daoguang's reign.

    Deng Shaoliang, courtesy name Chenruo, was born in Qianzhou Ting, Hunan Province. He was a soldier and was promoted to garrison from Tun Bianlei.  In the battle to suppress the Chongyang bandit Li Yuanfa, he led 500 people to defeat the bandit Jinfengling, captured Yuanfa, promoted him to the capital, and gave him the titles of Hualing and Yangyong Batulu.  Later, Deng Shaoliang went to Guangxi from Xiangrong to suppress the bandits. In the battle of Niangling Ridge in Xuzhou, he used his fine cavalry to attack both groups of bandits and defeated them both.  He also fought in Xiangzhou and Yong'an Prefecture, both of which were meritorious. In the first year of Xianfeng, he was awarded the title of deputy general of Chu Xiong Xie.  Now fifty years old, he has spent most of his life suppressing thieves. He has also obtained official positions, salaries, rewards, and countless trophies from suppressing thieves. He will never be merciful to the rebel Deng Shaoliang.

    Putting away the telescope, one of his subordinates, Du Si, bowed to the side and said: "Master Xietai, the long-haired thieves on the mountain are all big-footed women and boys. I will lead three hundred people up, and we can capture them in one fell swoop!"

    Deng Shaoliang cast a sidelong glance at the capital official. He was actually a distant cousin of Xu Guangjin, then the Imperial Envoy to Suppress Bandits and Governor of Huguang. His name was Zhu Ming, courtesy name Zichen, and he was from Wuxian County, Suzhou. When he was young, he failed in many examinations when he was a child.  Later, he abandoned literature and joined the martial arts, and has been following his distant cousin Xu Guangjin.  In May of the second year of Xianfeng, Zhu Ming followed Xu Guangjin to suppress the partial division of the Taiping Army in Wuzhou, Guangxi. In the water battle of Wujiang River, he captured more than 1,600 Taiping soldiers alive and was promoted to the capital for his merits.

    In August of that year, Emperor Xianfeng ordered Xu Guangjin to replace Sai Shang'a as the Imperial Envoy to Suppress Bandits and concurrently as the Governor of Huguang, and to go north to Hunan to destroy the Taiping Army Brigade.  After Xu Guangjin received the imperial edict, he ordered Zhu Ming to lead a hundred elite troops to go north to Chenzhou in advance.  After Ju Ming arrived in Chenzhou, he was assigned to the command of Deng Shaoliang. It happened that the governor of Chenzhou had a partial force of more than 2,000 thieves heading north, so Ju Ming followed Deng Shaoliang's troops and went north.

    To be honest, Deng Shaoliang, a veteran, didn't think much of Ju Ming's elegant appearance. He expected that Ju Ming got this official position because of his distant cousin Fuzhao who was a feudal official.

    Hearing this boy's arrogant words, he tightened his black copper-nailed cotton armor tightly and said with a faint smile: "Zi Chen, the ones on the mountain are not as long-haired as the ones you met in Wuzhou. The long-haired ones in Wuzhou are all echo thieves."  They are just ordinary thieves and bandits, but these on the mountain are all big-footed barbarians and red scarf demon boys who come out of the Bauhinia Mountains in Guangxi. Don't forget that they are just women and teenagers. They are not inferior to those elders in fighting.  Mao gangsters. Just at the beginning of spring this year, the Changmao broke out from Yong'an, and among them were these big-footed barbarians wielding swords to fight. There were also the Shaogang bandits attacking Guilin, and those red scarf demon boys also swarmed to attack the city.  Xiang Junmen has suffered heavy losses before, so he must not be underestimated."

    Zhu Ming snorted softly and said: "Master Xietai, are these words too arrogant? I think my subordinates are all men of the Qing Dynasty, are we really afraid of a group of thieves' female relatives and demon children?"  I would like to lead a hundred elite troops under my command to attack the mountain, and Sir Xie Tai can follow up behind."

    Deng Shaoliang's face darkened. In the officialdom of the Qing court, there had always been a strict hierarchy between superiors and subordinates. A small capital official would never dare to talk to a deputy general like this. But in front of him, Ju Ming had a big backer - Xu Guangjin, the governor of Huguang.  , but he couldn't scold ordinary subordinates like that, so he could only say patiently: "Master, we sent troops from Xiangtan, and found traces of these bandits on the way. Although these bandits are barbarian women and demon boys,  But they did not panic when encountering the enemy, and calmly and gradually retreated to this mountain to defend themselves. There must be reinforcements of long-haired soldiers nearby, so they must act cautiously, otherwise they will fall into the tricks of the long-haired thieves."

    Zhu Ming was eager to achieve success and couldn't help but said: "Sir Xietai, the long-haired bandits have captured Changsha. Recently, Lord General Xian sent a military order, asking me and other ministries to gather in Changsha. There are only Changsha's long-haired bandit army nearby.  Those bandits have to deal with the various imperial armies and have too much time to take care of themselves. How can anyone come to help?" After saying this, he clasped his fists heavily and said loudly: "Lord Xie Tai is relieved, I will lead my own troops to attack the mountain. If they lose, they will be dealt with by military law. I will win with credit.  It belongs to Master Xie Tai!"

    Deng Shaoliang's face became extremely ugly. He had been forbearing for Xu Guangjin's sake. If the governor's nephew had any shortcomings under his command, it would be difficult to explain in the future. However, he did not expect that this Zhu Ming would be stubborn.  Having achieved meritorious service, he couldn't help but snorted and said: "Since I have such bravery, I will agree to your request! All the credit for the victory will be yours, and I will not take any of it!"

    "Zhu Ming has always led troops under the protection of Xu Guangjin, and he never knew how to get along with Shangguan."Unaware that Deng Shaoliang was already angry, he bowed his hands in joy and happily greeted his troops to prepare to attack the mountain.

    Seeing Ju Ming's happy expression, Deng Shaoliang secretly shook his head and smiled bitterly. He knew at a glance that this Ju Ming was just a young boy. He didn't know the way to advance or retreat in battle, let alone the etiquette of leading from top to bottom, and he didn't understand the twists and turns of officialdom. But he thought of Xu Guangjin's face.  , or sighed softly and ordered the people around him: "When my son and his troops come out, everyone should be ready to respond. If they come up in one go, then we will cover up later. If the attack on the mountain is unsuccessful, we will help my son and his troops come down. He is the general secretary."  Your Excellency¡¯s distant cousin, it¡¯s difficult to explain any injuries.¡± A group of military attach¨¦s declared loudly.

    As the Qing army's horns blew and the war drums beat, Zhu Ming led more than a hundred Qing soldiers to climb the mountain. The mountain at Yanziling was not high, and more than a hundred Qing soldiers had reached halfway up the mountain in a moment. The Taiping female soldiers and Taiping boys on the ridge were  The soldier remained silent and motionless.

    Ju Ming also said that the barbarian women and demon boys on the mountain were timid, so he shouted loudly and bravely rushed in first. He was close to the rubble fort built hastily by the Taiping Army, and suddenly saw a black banner suddenly raised, and dozens of people behind the stone fort.  A black musket was discharged.  A female general was holding a short gun and appeared under the black banner. She was wearing a green men's robe and a yellow scarf wrapped around her head. When she raised her bare hands, the short gun in her hand spurted out fire.

    Zhu Ming was shocked and pale. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. His vision went dark and he rolled down the mountain. The sound of muskets like fried beans rang out behind him.

    The hundreds of Qing troops attacking the mountain did not expect that this group of big-footed barbarians and red-turban demon boys actually had dozens of muskets. They were caught off guard and were fired upon by a burst of muskets at close range. More than 30 people were killed and injured immediately, and the smoke had not yet evaporated.  After being dispersed, the remaining Qing troops shouted and fled.

    The yellow scarf female general raised her eyebrows, snorted contemptuously, and said to herself: "As a sister, I am a soft persimmon. I can pinch it if I want? Let you eat fried beans first, and your large army is waiting for you below.  Come and attack!" With her hair flying, she laughed loudly at a group of boy soldiers and female soldiers behind her: "Qingyao has been defeated, laugh at them as much as you want! Let them lose their composure and come back to attack the mountain again!" Then she said to another one.  The fifteen or six-year-old boy smiled and said: "Chen Picheng, prepare those two hundred-pound cannons and eight spray canisters. The Qingyao Brigade will come up later and let them have a taste of the power of our firearms!"

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